{"id":90295,"date":"2021-10-15T23:21:01","date_gmt":"2021-10-16T06:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=90295"},"modified":"2021-10-18T10:52:48","modified_gmt":"2021-10-18T17:52:48","slug":"alchemy-code-lab-job-outcomes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/alchemy-code-lab-job-outcomes\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Chief Alchemist\u2019 and CEO Marty Nelson Shares Alchemy Code Lab’s Winning Formula"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are looking for a coding bootcamp that is engaging, with real-time instruction and daily interaction, then Alchemy Code Lab<\/a> may just be the place for you. If you need any amount of convincing, look no further than the experience of its CEO, Marty Nelson<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marty himself had an interesting transition into tech. He started with a degree in Art History and mostly worked in the service industry before discovering software development in 1999. Since then, he said he has \u201cnever had a boring day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of the things we teach are based on my success in the industry,\u201d Marty says. \u201cI came to software development from a nontraditional background as an art history major. There’s a natural advantage for people from nontraditional backgrounds because people coming from other jobs tend to have a good understanding of what is valuable to a business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a Senior Software Architect to a Principal Instructor, Marty has worn multiple hats over the past 20 years. His achievements led him to establish Alchemy Code Lab<\/a>, a platform where tech hopefuls from all backgrounds can build robust technical skills and gain competency to succeed in the tech world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Alchemy Code Lab offers an expert-led software development program that is designed with career changers and all kinds of learners in mind.<\/p>\nApply to Alchemy Code Lab today.<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n

How Alchemy Code Lab Prepares Students for Software Development Roles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The structure of Alchemy Code Lab\u2019s Professional Software Developer Program<\/a> is formulated based on Marty\u2019s observations of industry trends over the past two decades and his extensive experience in tech. And, much like bootcamp students, his success did not begin with a computer science degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Understanding What Makes a Good Developer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Marty noticed good developers were not just the ones who knew specific programming languages or held computer science degrees. Instead, they were the ones who were able to break complex problems into pieces and adopt better coding practices like test-driven development, writing maintainable code, and refactoring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Marty\u2019s words, \u201cIt’s not what you know; it’s what you can figure out\u201d. That\u2019s why Alchemy Code Lab emphasizes problem-solving, instead of just tutorials or writing lines of code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of learning a specific coding language, Alchemy Code Lab students learn how to learn, build fluency, identify patterns, and ask questions to figure out how to get unstuck, which is a normal part of software development. The school wants to give students the know-how to seamlessly upskill following industry trends as they move along the career ladder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching Skills with Real-World Applications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Drawing from his own experience, Marty ensures that Alchemy Code Lab\u2019s teaching methods<\/a> can produce outstanding developers, capable of delivering good results and adding value to the companies that hire them or any team they join.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He strives to ensure that what students learn is applicable in real-life settings. To keep them engaged in the training, he tries to make sure that the software development classes are also interesting and fun. The work is meant to be intellectually stimulating, meaningful, impactful, and a genuinely good opportunity for economic mobility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says, \u201cOverly theoretical programs, sloppy coding practices, no exposure to collaborating with other developers, or simplistic exercises\u2014they just don’t push students to learn how to do the hard things that software developers need to learn how to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, Alchemy Code Lab is transparent about the expectations of the industry versus what a coding bootcamp can provide. He stresses the importance of continued learning for those looking to build a long-lasting career in tech. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe let students know that the bootcamp will not be able to train them in everything they will ever need to know\u2026The truth is, even the very skills they learn will become obsolete in an average of five years. You have to learn how to be a good developer who is always learning, not just learning a specific tech stack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Alchemy Code Lab Difference<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Marty\u2019s vast experience working with developers and aspiring developers is one of the main reasons why students should choose Alchemy Code Lab. He has incorporated the insights he gained in large-scale organizations with dozens of distributed teams into how he teaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt’s not syntax to be memorized, something to be learned by watching videos or working in limited sandboxes or online tutorials where students aren’t using professional tooling. It’s critical that people learn by doing the thing they’re training to do in all of its facets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marty believes that the right way to teach software development is by creating opportunities to grapple with more complex, realistic development projects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat’s how you learn how to move through problems, get yourself unstuck, leverage teammates and independent research, and be responsible for your code’s validity and ability to be comprehensive to others. That’s the expectation students will face when applying for a job, and training them to do anything less is a disservice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experienced Instructors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a professional, Marty believes seasoned instructors should be an important standard. He says, \u201cWho is doing the teaching matters. Students deserve feedback and modeling from people who have been working as software developers for at least five years professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Alchemy Code Lab instructors have at least five years of industry experience. While this may not be the most common set-up for coding bootcamps due to factors like costs, the school believes instructors\u2019 industry experience can add more value to the students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is a central tenet that students deserve to learn from instructors who deeply understand what it takes to do software development as a job and who have a level of personal experience to pull from. We believe that how much instructors know will make a definite difference in how much they are able to teach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration Is Key in Software Development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At Alchemy Code Lab, the focus is on teaching students teamwork and team-building skills. This is because developers need to be adaptable when practicing their craft. For example, developers who are used to using basic tools might struggle to write complex code more simply for other teammates to also understand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey need to be able to write code not just for machines, but for fellow humans to comprehend, maintain, and update. A big part of being a developer is knowing how to problem solve and deal with unfamiliar territory. It\u2019s a skill to be able to learn from others and find a way forward.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marty says that\u2019s where good collaborative skills come into play. That\u2019s why Alchemy Code Lab prioritizes both the technical and non-technical aspects of development in its approach. It teaches modern tech stack and also how to work on a team and independently as a high-quality developer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students can expect to learn:<\/p>\n\n\n\n